Assembly for coupling a washing machine to a faucet

ABSTRACT

A coupling assembly is provided for connecting hoses of a washing machine to a water faucet. The assembly is provided with a lever-actuated quick-release connector that joins the assembly to the faucet. A linkage arrangement between the lever of the connector and a normally closed valve within the assembly translates manual actuation of the lever to the valve whereby the valve is opened to relieve liquid pressure within the assembly to thereby prevent undesirable splash-out when the assembly is removed from the faucet. The valve within the assembly is also linked to a manually depressible dispensing mechanism whereby water may be selectively dispensed from a discharge passageway out of the assembly when the assembly is operatively engaged to the faucet.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Marlin L. Race 3,190,311 6/1965 Boyce et al. 137/583 Elm Groove, Wis. 3,306,319 2/1967 Kendt et al. 137/562 [21] Appl. No. 886,677 3,529,775 9/1970 Eckerle 137/562 X [22] Flled 1969 Primary ExaminerM. Cary Nelson [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 A E h d R h 73] Assignee General Electric Company xammer at man Attorneys-George C. Atwell, Harry F. Manbeck, .lr., Frank L. Neuhauser, Oscar B. Waddell and Joseph B. Forman [54] ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING A WASHING g l p fg F H ABSTRACT: A coupling assembly is provided for connecting auns "wing hoses of a washing machine to a water faucet. The assembly is [52] U.S.Cl 137/583, provided with a lever-actuated quick-release connector that 137/562 joins the assembly to the faucet. A linkage arrangement [51] Int. Cl Bb 1/22 between the lever of the connector and a normally closed Field 01 Search 137/562, valve within the assembly translates manual actuation of the 583; 251/148, 145, 149.9, 339, 303, 156; 222/509, lever to the valve whereby the valve is opened to relieve liquid 475,470, 469 pressure within the assembly to thereby prevent undesirable splash-out when the assembly is removed from the faucet. The Relel'ences Clted valve within the assembly is also linked to a manually depressi- UNITED STATES PATENTS ble dispensing mechanism whereby water may be selectively 3,064,678 11/1962 Shamesetal, 137/562 dispensed from a discharge passageway out of the aswmbly 3,124,157 3/1964 Krzewina 137/583 when the assembly is operalively engaged to the faucet- 1o h 7o (,7 4 49 7a 614 51 4:1 63 1 7G U:- zz k 74 72 i7: 5 s3 ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING A WASHING MACHINE TO A FAUCET' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many different devices available for connecting a washing machine to a water supply source. A device for this purpose that has become quite popular in recent years includes a housing or body portion that connects to the outlet end of a kitchen faucet and has a pair of hoses leading therefrom, one for receiving effluent from the washing machine and directing it toward the sink drain and the other for providing a flow of fresh water from the faucet to the washing machine. The aforementioned device may now be found to include manually operable means whereby the user may selectively draw water through a discharge passageway in the assembly that empties toward the sink so that it is not necessary to disconnect the assembly from the faucet when it is desired to withdraw water for other purposes. A coupling assembly that embodies the desirable features theretofore generally described is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,306,319, to N. L. Kendt et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The present invention is an improved construction for a coupling assembly that incorporates the aforementioned advantages in combination with certain new and highly desirable structural improvements. The present invention is particularly directed toward solving the problem of liquid splash-out occasioned by removal of a coupling assembly from the water faucet. Such splash-out occurs due to the buildup of water pressure within the assembly during the operation of the washing machine.

Persons who have operated a portable washing machine, such as a dishwasher that includes a coupling device for joining the machines hoses to the water faucet, are aware that closing the faucet valve before removing the coupling assembly from the faucet does not serve to reduce the pressure of liquid within the coupling assembly. Therefore, disconnection of the assembly from the outlet end of the faucet even when the faucet is turned off, often involves a spurting of liquid from the upper connector end of the coupling. Although the liquid pressure within the assembly can be relieved before the removal of the assembly from the faucet on the type of connecting assembly having an auxiliary water dispensing mechanism, such as in the coupling assembly of Kendt et al. mentioned heretofore, to accomplish this, it has been necessary for the user to remember to operate the dispensing mechanism before removing the assembly from the faucet. Unfortunately, the user quite often forgets to do this.

Therefore, it is a primary objective of this invention to provide an improved means to connect an automatic washing machine to a water source such as a kitchen faucet.

It is also an objective of this invention to provide an improved coupling assembly for an automatic washing machine, of the type having means therewith whereby the user can withdraw water from the assembly without the need for disconnecting it from the faucet, wherein the dispensing means is operatively linked to the means by which the assembly is connected to the faucet so that the act of releasing the assembly from the faucet will simultaneously actuate the dispensing means and relieve internal water pressure within the faucet.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide an improved coupling assembly for connecting an automatic washing machine to a water faucet wherein comparatively safe removal of the assembly from the water faucet, including relief of internal water pressure within the assembly prior to the actual removal operation, can be accomplished by a simple one hand operation.

It is also an objective of the present invention to incorporate the features necessary-to accomplish the foregoing objectives into a compact and aesthetically pleasing construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a coupling assembly that permits quick connection and disconnection of a washing machine to and from a water source such as a kitchen faucet. More specifically, the invention is an improved construction for a coupling assembly unit that includes a body portion defining a liquid passageway therethrough and having an inlet end with means therewith to couple it to a water faucet spout, and at least two separate outlets therefrom. One of the outlets is coupled to a water delivery hose leading to a washing machine such as a dishwasher and the other is a dispensing outlet that serves as part of a means of selectively dispensing water from the assembly in the direction of the sink normally located therebelow. The dispensing outlet is provided with a valve means including an annular valve seat that cooperates with a normally closed movable valve member. The valve member is preferably adapted to be pivoted laterally whereby its head portion may be tilted relative to the valve seat to permit water to flow outwardly through the dispensing outlet.

At the inlet end of the connecting portion a connecting means including an annular collar member. is provided for removably joining the assembly to the faucet. The collar member is adapted to be manually movable relative to the connecting portion to facilitate connection and removal of the assembly from the faucet. Linkage means are provided for translating disconnection movement of the collar member to the valve means whereby it is opened as a result of the disconnection operation. Water pressure within the assembly is thereby automatically relieved simultaneous with the removal of the assembly from the faucet. Separate manually operable means for opening the valve means during the washing machine's operation, and for dispensing water from the assembly as needed, is also provided. Water may thereby be selectively dispensed from the assembly without disturbing the assemblys connection to the faucet.

The assembly preferably has a lower end drain passageway therethrough. The inlet end of the drain passageway is connected to a drain hose from the washing machine, and the outlet end of the drain passageway is oriented to direct effluent discharge received from the washing machine downwardly toward the drain opening in the sink therebeneath.

A housing or outer case of the assembly is preferably provided with a recessed area therein partially defined by a ledge portion integral to the housing. The recess and the ledge portion provide a convenient means of grasping and manipulating the assembly for connection. disconnection and storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While this specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view shown in a scale approximately twice the size of a presently preferred commercial embodiment of the improved coupling assembly of the present invention, and is shown partially cut away to illustrate relative positioning of the internal components when the assembly is in its installed position on a water faucet;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the disposition of components of the assembly as they would appear at the moment of the release of the assembly from the water faucet;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the improved coupling assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of a coupling member that is a component of the improved coupling assembly of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated a coupling assembly for connecting a washing machine to the outlet end of a faucet 1 1. The coupling assembly 10 includes a sleevelike connecting portion 12 defining a central liquid passageway 13 therethrough leading from an inlet opening 14 to oppositely disposed discharge passageways or outlets l5 and 16. The outlet 15 has a hose 17 joined in liquid flow communication therewith for providing water to a washing machine such as a dishwasher. The outlet 16 is a dispensing outlet that constitutes a part of a water-dispensing means whereby water may be selectively withdrawn therethrough and outwardly from the assembly to a sink beneath the assembly or to a utensil held therebeneath. An annular shoulder is provided at the inner end of the outlet 16 and serves as a valve seat 18. A valve member 21 is disposed generally within the outlet 16 and includes a buttonlike head portion 22 with an elongated stem portion 23 extended therefrom outwardly through the outlet 16. A gasket 24 is fitted to the head portion 22 and serves in cooperation with the valve seat 18 to normally prevent water from flowing outwardly through the outlet 16.

The outlet 16, when the valve therewith is in its open position, directs water from the passageway 13 outwardly to chamber 25. The chamber 25 has a tubular dispensing spout 26 leading downwardly therefrom and both are defined by a rigid casing 27 that is constructed so that an open inlet end thereof fits over a nipple portion 28 laterally extended from the connecting portion 12. The inlet end of the casing 27 is sealed circumjacently around the nipple portion 28 by means of a gasket or O-ring 29. The casing 27 is retained in its installed position relative to the connecting portion 12 by means of an outer assembly cover or housing 30.

The housing 30 is preferably formed to have oppositely shaped mating portions, only one portion of which is shown in the drawings. The mating portions of the housing 30 are separable along a vertical parting line. The housing 30 is designed to conformably fit around and support not only the connecting portion 12 and the casing 27 but also an arcuate discharge tube 31 that receives effluent pumped from the washing machine and through a hose 32. The discharge tube 31 directs the effluent downwardly into the sink over which the assembly is mounted where it is funneled through the sink drain into the household sewer system. It will be noted that the housing 30 is preferably of a plastic construction and is substantially hollow. A plurality of suitably disposed rib portions, such as ribs 33 and 34, are utilized to reinforce the housing and hold the constituent parts of the assembly in position. An opening 35 is provided centrally through the pair of mated portions making up the housing 30 which are aligned to accommodate a retaining bolt (not shown) for fastening the two mated portions of the housing 30 together.

The means of connecting the assembly to the faucet includes a male fitting 38 of a known type that is threadably fastened at the outlet end of the faucet l l The inlet end of the connecting portion 12 is formed to receivably accommodate a male fitting 38 therein and is provided with an annular gasket 39 that forms a liquid-tight seal about the fittings outer end. It will be noted that fitting 38 has a radially outwardly extending ridge portion 40 that abuts against a radially inwardly extending annular ledge 41 of the connecting portion 12 when the assembly is connected to the faucet 11. The latter abutment assures that the outer end of the fitting 38 is properly disposed for sealing with the gasket 39. The annular ridge 40 also serves to form, in cooperation with a ridge 42 spaced apart therefrom, an annular groove or recessed area 43 therebetween. The recessed area 43 serves as a socket, and spherical members or balls 44 are urged into the recessed area 43 between the ridges 40 and 42 as a means of retaining the connecting portion 12 in its installed position on the fitting 38, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 3 also shows a plurality of equidistantly spaced-apart openings 47 provided through the upper end of the connecting portion 12, each of which accommodates one of the balls 44. Each ball 44 is free to move relative to its opening 47 and has a diameter slightly greater than the thickness of the wall of the inlet end of the connecting portion 12 through which the openings 47 extend. Therefore, a portion of each ball 44 extends beyond the wall of the connecting portion 12, either inwardly or outwardly depending upon the position of a collarlike vertically movable connecting member 48 positioned thereabout.

The connecting member 48 has a diameter such that it fits loosely in a slidable relationship to the outer sidewall of the upper end of the connecting portion 12,'and has a radially inwardly extending shoulder portion 49 which tends to urge the balls 44 inwardly when the connecting member 48 is in its uppermost position shown in FIG. 1.

A retaining ring 50 resides in a groove provided in the upper end of the connecting portion 12. The connecting member 48 is thereby limited to movement between the normal position shown in FIG. 1 and its downward position shown in FIG. 2 and is prevented from moving further upwardly because at the end of its upward stroke, its radially inwardly directed portion 49 contacts and abuts against the ring 50. A biasing means in the form of a coil spring 51, carried in the space between the lower end of the connecting member 48 and the sidewall of the connecting portion 12, serves to normally urge the connecting member 48 to its uppermost normal position. It will be noted that the spring 51 is carried between a shoulder 52 provided on the connecting portion 12 and the undersurface of the portion 49 of the connecting member 48.

The connecting member 48 also has an actuating or releasing means in the form of a lever 55 associated therewith. By manually depressing an outer end 56 of the lever 55 in a downward direction relative to the coupling assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1, the connecting member 48 is caused thereby to move downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2. When the connecting member 48 is in its uppermost position, its annular portion 49 is in alignment with the plurality of holes 47 in the connecting portion 12. Since the balls carried in the holes 47 have a diameter greater than the thickness of the wall at the upper end of the connecting portion 12, the presence of the portion 49 in close adjacency to the holes 47 tends to force the balls 44 radially inwardly toward the recessed area 43 of the fitting 38. The balls 44 are unable to move outwardly from the fitting 38 as long as the connecting member 48 is in its uppermost position. Manipulation of the lever 55 to move the connecting member 48 downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2 serves to move the portion 49 below the openings for holes 47 whereby the balls 44 may move radially outwardly in their respective openings 47 so that the entire coupling assembly 10 may be moved downwardly out of its engagement with the faucet fitting 38.

The lever 55 is a U-shaped member having a pair of leg portions 57 extending from the curved outer end or common handle portion 56. Each leg portion 57 has an inward projection 58 intermediate its length that projects into a recess or socket 59 provided in the sidewall of the connecting member 48. The extreme end of each leg 57 is disposed beneath a ledge 60 integral to the assemblys outer housing 30. Application of manual pressure in a downward direction to the handle 56 of the lever 55 causes the ends of the legs 57 to press upwardly against the overhanging ledge 60. This causes the projections 58, which engage the connecting member 48 where they extend into the sockets 58, to move downwardly. The connecting member 48 is thereby levered downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2. This permits the balls 44 to roll radially outwardly in their respective openings 47 and thereby release the assembly 10 from its attachment to the fitting 38 of the faucet 11.

The connecting member 48, which is shown in FIG. 4 as it would appear when removed from the assembly 10, is provided with a rigid laterally extended arm 63. The arm 63 is an integral extension of the connecting member 48 and moves upwardly and downwardly in unison therewith. An opening 64 is provided near the outer end of the arm 63 to receivably engage the upper end of a linkage member or plunger 65. The plunger 65, which is disposed to move vertically through an opening 66 in the casing 27 defining the chamber 25, serves as a linking means for translating vertical movement of the arm 63 to the valve member 22 disposed therebelow. In another distinctly separate capacity the plunger 65 serves as a part of a dispenser actuation means by translating movement of a pivotally mounted actuating button 67 disposed thereabove.

The plunger 65 has a rodlike intermediate body portion 68 that extends through an opening 66 in the casing 27. Directly above the intermediate portion 68 is aradially outwardly extending shoulder 69 that is disposed under the am 63. The plunger 65 is also provided with an upwardly extending nose portion 70 that projects through the opening 64 of the arm 63 whereby the actuating button 67, when it is pivoted downwardly, may contact the plunger 65 and urge it downwardly against the outer end of the stem 23 of the valve member 21. The plunger 65 is normally urged upwardly by a biasing means in the form of a coil spring 71 carried about the plungers intermediate portion 68.

It will be noted that the casing 27 is provided with an annular groove circumjacent the opening 66 for receiving an annular gasket or elastomeric seal ring 72. The gasket 72 encircles and circumferentially seals against the rodlike portion 68 of the plunger 65 and acts to prevent water within the chamber from seeping outwardly through the opening 66 during the dispensing operation. A rigid washer 73, contiguous to the upper surface of the gasket 72, has its outer peripheral edge resting against the upper surface of the casing 27. The washer 73 acts to retain the gasket 72 in its installed position and also serves as a base member for supporting the coiled expansion spring 71 thereon whereby the spring may exert a force between the washer 73 and the plunger shoulder 69. The plunger 64 may also be provided with a comparatively wide buttonlike lower end portion 74 that serves as a shoulder to abut against the inside surface of the casing 27 when the plunger 65 is in its uppermost position, as shown in FIG. 1, and serves to contact and move the valve member 21 when the plunger 65 is pushed to its downward position as shown in FIG. 2.

The actuating button 67 has a generally rectangular configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, and is mounted to pivot a limited distance, about a pin or axis 75, when pushed downwardly by the finger of the user. The actuating button 67 is accommodated by an opening 76 provided in the housing of the assembly 10. The actuating button 67 has a lip portion 79 extending along its free end and underlying a ledge portion 80 of the housing 30 that is immediately adjacent its opening 76. The plunger 65, which is normally urged upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1 by the expansion spring 71, tends to push the actuating button 67 to a position wherein it is disposed to conform to the general outline of the housing 30, and the abutment of the lip 79 against the ledge 80 prevents the actuating button 67 from pivoting upwardly past its normal position shown in FIG. I.

The housing 30 of the coupling assembly 10 is preferably formed to have a compact eye-pleasing appearance. When used with the type of portable washing machine where the hoses are retractable into the machine, the outer housing 30 of the assembly 10 may be formed to be received in a recessed receptacle (not shown) in the machine's top or sidewall. For this purpose it is convenient to provide the housing with a means for the user to easily grasp it with the hand to either withdraw it and position it for operation on a water faucet or replace it in its receptacle.

The housing 30 is therefore provided with a laterally disposed substantially large recess 82, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A lip 83 of the housing 30 extends across the upper end of the recess 82 whereby the users fingers may be inserted into the recess 82 and drawn upwardly to engage the lip 83 to lift and manipulate the entire coupling assembly 10.

It should be apparent from the preceding description that the present invention provides a new and improved washing machine coupling assembly having means therewith whereby it may be actuated by the user to dispense water directly from the assembly to a container held therebeneath and having additional structure, separate from the dispensing actuation means, that acts automatically to relieve internal water pressure within the assembly when the user releases the assembly from its engagement with a faucet.

The preceding description and the various FIGURES of the drawing pertain only to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims define the subject matter of the invention and it is specifically not intended that the invention be limited to the particular details of construction in the example presented. Therefore, although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that numerous changes or modifications in the details of the construction and the combination or arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A coupling assembly to connect an automatic washing machine to a water faucet, comprising:

a. a connecting portion defining a liquid passageway therein having an inlet end adapted to connect to the faucet and at least two separate outlets therefrom,

b. manually releasable means on said connecting portion connecting said inlet end in water flow communication with the faucet,

. a first of said outlets serving to transmit liquid from said passageway toward the washing machine,

d. valve means associated with said connecting portion for normally closing off a second of said outlets,

e. manually operable means, operable independently of said manually releasable means, for dispensing liquid from said connecting portion by temporarily opening said valve means, and

. means linking said manually releasable means to said valve means so that actuation of said manually releasable means is translated to said valve means and said valve means is thereby opened to relieve liquid pressure within said connecting portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said manually releasable means includes a manually depressible lever, an annular collar member disposed outwardly circumjacent the inlet end of said connecting portion, said collar member being movable relative to said connecting portion in response to manual force applied to said lever, and said means linking said manually releasable means to said valve means includes an arm portion integral to said collar member and projecting laterally therefrom for movement in unison therewith.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a valve seat circumjacent said second outlet, a valve member having a head portion adjacent the valve seat, and an elongated stem portion extending through said second outlet.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said valve means includes a valve member adapted to be pivoted generally laterally relative to said second outlet in response to operation of said manually operable means.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a valve member adapted to pivot generally laterally relative to said second outlet in response to operation of said manually releasable means.

6. A coupling assembly to connect an automatic washing machine to a water faucet comprising:

a. a connecting portion defining a liquid passageway therein and being adapted for temporary connection in water flow communication with the faucet,

b. an annular collar member circumjacent the inlet end of said connecting portion and being adapted for movement relative to said connecting portion to effect release of said connecting portion from the faucet,

c. said annular collar member having a rigid arm portion extending laterally therefrom,

d. normally closed valve means operative to seal an outlet from said liquid passageway and having a stem portion extending outwardly from said connecting portion, and

e. movable means disposed generally between said arm portion and said stem portion and adapted to be moved against said stem portion by movement of said arm portion to thereby open said valve means.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said movable means has means acting to normally urge it toward said arm portion and away from said stem portion. 

1. A coupling assembly to connect an automatic washing machine to a water faucet, comprising: a. a connecting portion defining a liquid passageway therein having an inlet end adapted to connect to the faucet and at least two separate outlets therefrom, b. manually releasable means on said connecting portion connecting said inlet end in water flow communication with the faucet, c. a first of said outlets serving to transmit liquid from said passageway toward the washing machine, d. valve means associated with said connecting portion for normally closing off a second of said outlets, e. manually operable means, operable independently of said manually releasable means, for dispensing liquid from said connecting portion by temporarily opening said valve means, and f. means linking said manually releasable means to said valve means so that actuatiOn of said manually releasable means is translated to said valve means and said valve means is thereby opened to relieve liquid pressure within said connecting portion.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said manually releasable means includes a manually depressible lever, an annular collar member disposed outwardly circumjacent the inlet end of said connecting portion, said collar member being movable relative to said connecting portion in response to manual force applied to said lever, and said means linking said manually releasable means to said valve means includes an arm portion integral to said collar member and projecting laterally therefrom for movement in unison therewith.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a valve seat circumjacent said second outlet, a valve member having a head portion adjacent the valve seat, and an elongated stem portion extending through said second outlet.
 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said valve means includes a valve member adapted to be pivoted generally laterally relative to said second outlet in response to operation of said manually operable means.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a valve member adapted to pivot generally laterally relative to said second outlet in response to operation of said manually releasable means.
 6. A coupling assembly to connect an automatic washing machine to a water faucet comprising: a. a connecting portion defining a liquid passageway therein and being adapted for temporary connection in water flow communication with the faucet, b. an annular collar member circumjacent the inlet end of said connecting portion and being adapted for movement relative to said connecting portion to effect release of said connecting portion from the faucet, c. said annular collar member having a rigid arm portion extending laterally therefrom, d. normally closed valve means operative to seal an outlet from said liquid passageway and having a stem portion extending outwardly from said connecting portion, and e. movable means disposed generally between said arm portion and said stem portion and adapted to be moved against said stem portion by movement of said arm portion to thereby open said valve means.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said movable means has means acting to normally urge it toward said arm portion and away from said stem portion.
 8. The combination of claim 6 including manually operable means for moving said movable means against said valve stem while said arm portion remains stationary.
 9. The combination of claim 6 including a manually depressible lever operatively linked to said collar member whereby manual force applied against said lever will move said collar member relative to said connecting portion and effect release of the assembly from the faucet and simultaneously move said movable member against said valve stem portion and thereby open said valve means. 